Parents may sign their children out and children who are relocated to area schools will be bused back to Tottenville for dismissal, Ignizio said.

"Smoke smell is still in school and we are relocating kids to nearby schools via bus," Ignizio said on Facebook. "Everyone is safe but clearly no instruction will go on today. Thank God it went well and thanks to all teachers, students, administrators and first responders."

The school has retained an electrician to make repairs to the electrical boxes, said Joy Faber, a spokeswoman for Con Edison. While Con Edison is continuing its investigation, preliminary information indicates that it is an internal electrical fire, Ms. Faber said. However, just prior to the electrical fire an underground transformer that feeds the school blew. In order to repair the transformer, Con Ed has had to temporarily curtail service to the school. Both incidents are under review and appear to be unrelated, she said.

One teacher at the school told a reporter that power went out at approximately 8:30 a.m., and one of the panels on the third floor started smoking, followed by a panel on the second floor.

At that time, students at the school were evacuated to the athletic fields.

"Fire alarms went off and teachers told us to stay," said student Sal Bonello. "All of a sudden, people in the orange jackets are evacuating us."

A teacher with a bullhorn could be heard informing the students that, if they are not signed out by parents, they will be bused to a nearby school and bused back for Tottenville later Friday afternoon for dismissal.

One athletic coach told a reporter some seniors were dismissed.

Officials from the Department of Education have yet to respond to inquiries about the school's plan to bus students to another location.

"I've been out here since 8:30 a.m. and I felt like a caged animal until they released us at 10:30 a.m.," said one senior.